Director of Institutional Research & Data Analytics

Niagara University•Niagara University, NY

About The Position

The Director of Institutional Research & Data Analytics serves as Niagara University's primary data strategist and analytics expert. This hands-on technical lead and decision-support partner extracts, synthesizes, analyzes, and visualizes institutional data to support evidence-based decisions, enrollment and retention strategy, internal operations, and required state and federal reporting. The role combines technical expertise, familiarity with data architecture, project management, and executive-level communication. The Director collaborates with Information Technology, academic leadership, and administrative offices, and provides data and analytical support for accreditation, assessment, and strategic planning. Responsibilities include coordinating compliance reporting and surveys; developing institutional data models, dashboards, and analytical studies; researching enrollment, retention, and student success; supporting accreditation and planning; and contributing to data governance, quality assurance, and systems integration. The position requires maintaining confidentiality and compliance for student, employee, and proprietary institutional data.

Requirements

Master's degree in a relevant field.
Minimum 4–5 years of progressive experience in institutional research, data analytics, business intelligence, or decision support; higher education experience is preferred.
Demonstrated expertise in statistical analysis, modeling, and software such as SPSS, R, or Python.
Demonstrated expertise constructing and manipulating large datasets and creating repeatable reporting workflows.
Demonstrated expertise designing user-friendly dashboards.
Experience with enterprise software such as Ellucian Colleague, Slate, or Canvas and underlying data structures.
Ability to manage competing priorities and complex projects independently.
Ability to communicate technical, statistical, and complex findings clearly to non-technical audiences.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build positive cross-departmental relationships at all organizational levels.
Exceptional attention to detail, commitment to data precision, and a strong record of maintaining confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a solo or small-team institutional research environment.
Experience with compliance reporting.
Experience with Entrinsik Informer.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and serve as keyholder for mandatory state and federal reporting, including IPEDS and NYSED submissions.
Lead completion, validation, and submission of external guidebook and benchmarking surveys, such as U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, College Board, and NSSE.
Build and maintain an institutional census data model using Entrinsik Informer, including automated workflows to capture, freeze, and archive point-in-time enrollment and related data.
Design, build, and maintain interactive business intelligence dashboards and self-service data tools for executive leadership, deans, and department heads.
Translate quantitative data into clear narratives, visualizations, and executive summaries to inform university strategy and policy.
Conduct ad hoc queries and specialized research studies in response to institutional priorities and leadership requests.
Conduct longitudinal cohort studies, predictive retention modeling, and student success research to identify factors affecting retention and graduation.
Partner with academic and administrative departments to develop program-level retention and outcome models for program reviews, grant reporting, student success initiatives, and operational decisions.
Provide datasets, trend analyses, and benchmarking evidence for university and specialized academic program accreditation.
Supply performance metrics, KPI tracking, and peer-group comparisons for strategic planning.
Assist departments with survey design, methodology, and statistical analysis for institutional surveys.
Collaborate with IT and other stakeholders to support data integrity, consistent definitions, and data hygiene across enterprise systems.
Contribute to data governance, including standard definitions, data dictionary documentation, and single-source-of-truth reporting protocols.
Maintain confidentiality and compliance regarding student (FERPA), employee, and proprietary institutional data.

Benefits

Low-cost health benefits.
403(b) employer contribution.
Affordable tuition at Niagara University for the employee and eligible immediate family members.
Tuition exchange at designated universities for eligible dependent children.
20 holidays annually.
Paid time off (PTO).
Half-day Fridays throughout the summer.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness program–approved employer.
Free parking.
On-site dining options.
Fresh coffee at Tim Horton's and Starbucks.